• Accommodation
  • News
  • Shipping
  • Contact

My Cape Town

  • Business Directory
    • Add Your Business
    • Login
    • Register
    • User Update
  • Events
    • Add Your Event
  • News
  • Submit News
    • Video Submission
  • Submit Video
  • Accommodation
  • Free Ad
  • Tours

Volvo Ocean Race a boost for Cape Town

10 December 2011 By CapeTownNewsReader Leave a Comment

The arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race yachts in Cape Town for their two-week stopover has highlighted the important contribution that such events have on the local economy.

Not only does this race offer worldwide marketing exposure for Cape Town and boost its profile as a top leisure and events destination, but it also provides a valuable boost for the many local industries through both visitor and organiser spend.

Global television viewing figures indicate that the Volvo Ocean Yacht Race – considered the world’s premier offshore sailing event – is now number three after the Olympic Games and Soccer World Cup. International yacht racing has become a feature of maritime Cape Town with the Clipper, Lipton and Cape to Rio Yacht races all coming to Cape Town as a stopover and race venue.

This is the eighth time the race has come to Cape Town. The last visit, in 2008, resulted in a direct economic impact of close to R308 million, while Cape Town got worldwide media exposure valued at R77 million. Over 30 000 tourists linked to the race stayed in Cape Town.
This year, R16.2 million was budgeted for the stopover, and the City of Cape Town contributed R1.5 million towards investment promotion events, branding, marketing costs, and funding volunteers.

“Over the years the importance and significance for Cape Town of being a stopover port has been greatly valued, especially by the tourism and related sectors,” said Cllr Grant Pascoe, Mayoral Committee Member: Tourism Events Marketing.

“What the City has done is to see how we can leverage the stopover, especially for smaller local businesses.”

For instance, the City bought space in the race village at the VA Waterfront, where a marquee was set up at the entrance in which 12 local crafters were given the opportunity to gain important exposure to a new international market. This was done in conjunction with the Cape Craft and Design Institute in order to ensure innovative, quality products representing culture and diversity.

The hospitality industry has reaped the rewards of the extra visitors, and the local boating industry has benefited from the extra work.

“The benefits to the boat building industry are direct and indirect. Working on repair projects in collaboration with some of the Volvo Ocean Race technical experts also offers opportunity for skills transfer,” said Vanessa Davidson, Skills Development Facilitator at the Cape Town Boat Building Initiative.

She used the example of Team Sanya’s boat, which was damaged just a day after leaving Spain. Skipper Mike Sanderson decided to repair the boat in Cape Town, contacting local boat builder Uwe Jespersen from Jaz Marine, who had assisted him on a previous race. Using Jaz Marine’s facilities and the expertise of other companies, the team fashioned a new component and fitted it at the Waterfront.

“Indirectly, a significant benefit is the heightened local awareness of boating and sailing. The Try Sail programme offers non-sailors an opportunity to get a feel for sailing. The Youth Academy Team Racing promotes youth sailing and in the long term, the more people who are passionate about boating and sailing, the more boats we will build locally to satisfy that need.”

Four City departments – Sport, Recreation Amenities; Economic Development; Communication Marketing, and Tourism – were involved in hosting the event.
Local communities also reaped the benefits, through volunteer programmes, internships, community days and the craft exhibition.

About 20 high school pupils from Mitchells Plain were taken on a tour of the race village and went for a cruise on the DHL Speed of Yellow yacht, as part of a Development Day. This was the first time most of them had been out on the water. The VOR Sailing Academy Road Show has 20 small craft, three large craft and 18 windsurfers.

e Race Village features daily events and is open from 09:00 to 21:00 each day until Sunday 11 December, when the yachts depart for Abu Dhabi.

For more information about the Volvo Ocean Race, follow it on Twitter or its Facebook page.

Article source: http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/VolvoOceanRaceaboostforCapeTown.aspx

Original Post on MyZA» Cape Town: Volvo Ocean Race a boost for Cape Town

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • LinkedIn
  • Email


Previous: Last chance to see the Volvo Ocean Race
Next: Sunday Open Thread


Filed Under: Blogs

RSS Cape Town on www.MyPR.co.za

  • SA Cricket Legends return to focus on developing cricket talent
  • Challenging finish awaits Berge & Dale riders
  • Search Engine Marketing Services
  • Top Western Cape matric determined to make her mark as an engineer
  • CloudOne.mobi secures major investment to boost its Cloud-based business solutions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.




Search the Business Directory


Random Business Listings

  • Redbourne Hilldrop Guesthouse in Cape Town
  • Roberto’s
  • Pro Image English Language Academy
  • Hoogwaterhuis
  • Gaffleys Coaches
  • Fullham Lodge
  • Movers Cape Town
  • Fantasy Parties 4 Kids
  • Embroidery Industries
  • Cape Gate

Random Goodness

Macrocosm Ultra Digital: Your Digital Marketing Partner

Tygerberg Nature Reserve

Good Samaritans come to matriculant’s aid

National Assembly Speaker receives her Smart ID

Two Oceans gives Cape’s economy huge boost

RSS Port Elizabeth in the News

  • New MPL Fezeka Mbiko sworn in
  • Time is Running Out
  • King Williams Town News: STEVE BIKO’S WIFE AT HIS FUNERAL IN KING WILLIAM’S TOWN 1977
  • Makhanda News: Makhanda water crisis deepens
  • Bloody Nose for Errant Councillors
  • Mthatha News: Two arrested for unlicensed firearms around Mthatha Cluster
  • Homecoming for Amanda Black
  • Baakens River Pedestrian Bridge
  • Day 1 Live Replay – SAP 5O5 World Championship 2015 – Port Elizabeth, South Africa [video]
  • The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

RSS Durban News

  • Durban Image: World Economic Forum Solutions Summit Public
  • Top-performing SAPS station ensures visitor safety at the 2019 South Coast Bike Fest™
  • Govt-funded youth centre rocked by abuse, racism allegations, almost 200 children removed
  • Huge Week Beckons – Featured Durban Blog
  • New appointments – Thobile Shange
  • Man electrocuted on train top critical in Durban hospital
  • Durban Image: Corolanty, 27 Boscombe Spa Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset
  • SA’s Property Associations And Government Unite In KZN To Boost Transformation
  • DUT suspends academic programme at Durban campuses
  • Durban Image: World Economic Forum Solutions Summit Public

RSS Johannesburg News

  • Hello world!

Copyright © 2019 · Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · Privacy Policy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.